Best Ball Season is in full swing, now earlier than ever and with these drafts comes plenty of opportunity to target players we feel are mispriced. This average draft position (ADP) is based on Underdog’s Big Board contest that is set to close before the NFL Draft in April. For more best ball strategy and the best way to approach Underdog drafts, check out the FantasyPros Best Ball Guide.
- NFL Free Agent & Draft Needs for Every Team
- NFL Free Agency Primers
- Introduction to Best Ball Leagues
- Erickson’s Best Ball Positional Primers
Best Ball Players To Target (2023 Fantasy Football)
Cooper Kupp (WR – LAR) (4.9)
Despite being the most productive wide receiver in points per game over the last two years combined, Cooper Kupp is being taken as the third wide receiver currently, behind Justin Jefferson and Ja’Maar Chase. Jefferson deserves to be unquestioned as the WR1, but Chase was WR20 or worse in 46% of his weekly finishes in 2022 and faces elite competition from Tee Higgins. Meanwhile, Cooper Kupp was still the WR2 in points per game, despite the mess the Rams put out on the field each week. Kupp’s ankle injury was minor, and if the Rams had been in contention, he might have made it back for the playoffs. However, there is no reason to think he won’t be ready for the 2023 season.
Kupp's outproduced Chase over the last two years, even through 2022's mess of a season. Can it continue in 2023? pic.twitter.com/vBNfa69Cpj
— The Fantasy Sanctuary (@TheFFSanctuary) February 27, 2023
Chris Olave (WR – NO) (28.9)
During a rookie season that gave Chris Olave two very different quarterbacks in Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton, the talented rookie proved that his game could work with anyone throwing the ball. Olave was the rookie WR1, and among rookies with 50 targets or more over the last twenty years, he had the fourth-highest yards per route run with 2.40. Olave only trailed Ja’Maar Chase, Justin Jefferson and Odell Beckham, which is pretty good company to keep.
Mark Andrews (TE – BAL) (32.7)
After a scintillating finish to the 2021 campaign with Tyler Huntley, Mark Andrews could not repeat the feat in 2022, with Huntley regressing somewhat while filling in for Lamar Jackson. The contract standoff with Jackson is likely suppressing Andrews’ ADP slightly. Still, he deserves to be drafted higher than this mainly because he’s one of a very small number of tight ends who can routinely put up big performances, with four games over 18 half points per reception (PPR) points in 2022.
Chris Godwin (WR – TB) (49.4)
Understandably there is an air of jeopardy around drafting players from the Bucs, with them reportedly ready to start Kyle Trask in 2023, but Chris Godwin still warrants attention. Godwin has played over half of his career games without Tom Brady, and while he was less productive, it was by no means awful. We’ve seen plenty of sub-par quarterbacks manage to take the layups to their slot receivers, and Godwin’s production should be a lot easier to count on than Mike Evans‘s deep-downfield targets.
Chris Godwin splits with & without Tom Brady courtesy of @RotoViz
How much of a fall-off do we see if it's Kyle Trask?
I'm much more concerned for Mike Evans than Godwin. pic.twitter.com/jDuHugTH4H
— Tom Strachan (@NFL_TStrack) February 27, 2023
Jerry Jeudy (WR – DEN) (50.7)
From Weeks 11 to 17 of last season, Jerry Jeudy was half PPR WR12, averaging 14.2 points per game and scoring 2.7 fantasy points per touch, which was the same as Justin Jefferson, who you might have heard had a very good season. Jeudy managed all of this on 33 routes per game, which was a significant drop off from most of the top 12 receivers in that period, who, as a group, ran an average of 36.5 with many over 40 per game. In addition, Courtland Sutton is the subject of trade speculation, and if he were to depart, it would further press the case that Jeudy is a bargain at his current ADP.
Marquise Brown (WR – ARI) (64.7)
DeAndre Hopkins might not have departed the Cardinals yet, but it seems only a matter of time, given the price of his contract and with Kyler Murray set to miss time. When Hopkins is moved on, Marquise Brown will inevitably see a jump in his ADP. Additionally, with Murray set to miss a significant chunk of time with his ACL injury, it’s fair to question what this offense might look like. Still, Brown has shown that he can be used downfield and nearer to the line of scrimmage, and when he’s peppered with targets, he has a habit of being very relevant. You’re getting one of the cheapest WR1s in best ball at this price, and the upside case is completely worth it.
J.K. Dobbins (RB – BAL) (70.7)
There are many questions about the Ravens’ quarterback position, but few should result in a negative outcome for J.K. Dobbins in 2023. If Lamar Jackson returns, he’ll likely have fewer designed runs than the offense featured under Greg Roman, and if Jackson is traded, then the Ravens would likely still wish to lean on the running game at times, as they always have under John Harbaugh. Dobbins showed some great lateral cutting ability down the stretch, and while his breakaway running wasn’t quite there, after a healthy offseason, he has a great opportunity to show it off in 2023. Fellow running back Gus Edwards is among the Ravens’ top cut options if they need to free up salary for QB franchise tag.
James Conner (RB – ARI) (91.4)
The Cardinals are undergoing a soft rebuild with Kyler Murray set to miss time and aging veterans like JJ Watt and DeAndre Hopkins moving on. Still, one veteran unlikely to be moved is James Conner, who cost almost $10m to cut this season. Like most running backs, Conner has a habit of picking up knocks, but when he is on the field, he can be used on all three downs, averaging 2.7 receptions per game over the last three years and averaging 14.7 Half PPR points per game over the last five years. At this cost, if James Conner can get you 11-13 points a game, you should be very happy.
Kayshon Boutte (WR – FA) (131.7)
Many things can be said about Kayshon Boutte, who had a colorful experience in college (google him if you’re unsure where I’m going with this…), but one thing that can’t be questioned is his incredible ability to turn catches into big plays. If Boutte lands on a good team with an imaginative offensive coordinator, he could be the perfect ‘better in best ball’ type player who gives you huge boom weeks.
Kayshon Boutte might be the most electric receiver in the draft and also might have the most red flags pic.twitter.com/nRFs02kQfD
— Andre’ Jackson (@therealdre_jack) February 23, 2023
Anthony Richardson (QB – FA) (178.7)
The only thing suppressing Anthony Richardson’s ADP at this point is a lack of knowing where he gets drafted. Over the last month, Richardson has climbed higher in many reputable mocks and is no longer considered a possible first-round talent but is considered to be in the conversation for a top-five pick. Richardson has great ability at delivering the ball downfield as well as his dual-threat upside. With the right landing spot, he could break fantasy football in 2023.
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